Bloghttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au
Tue, 20 Nov 2018 09:10:44 +1100http://churchplantmedia.com/World War I and my grandfatherhttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/world-war-i
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/world-war-i#commentsWed, 14 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/world-war-iMy maternal grandfather David Bannerman was a hopeful young man in January 1916 when he joined the Australian Imperial Forces. After training he was subsequently sent to France where he served for 3 years. He was away from home for 3 years and 10months. During that time he did not see his family in Sydney and they knew little of his welfare. In fact, they wrote several times to the AIF office requesting to know if he was still alive. They received general form letters stating that he was not on the casualty list and is believed to be with his Brigade.

From when Dave returned to Australia in late 1919 until his death in 1977 he said nothing about his time in France. The only stories he told were about his time before and after being in France. His War Service Record identifies that he served actively as a Gunner for 2 years in notorious battle fields including the Somme Valley, Fromelles, Ypres, Polygon Wood, Villiers Brettonneus and Amines.

He, like many of the 55th Battalion had more than 2 years on the Western Front and could not find a way to talk about their experience with anyone back in Australia. His face, however told a story. When he left Sydney in 1916 he looked like a 22 year old man. When he returned to Sydney in 1919 he looked like a 40 year old man. Dave like many men of his time became closed and cynical about matters of the heart and faith. While he loved to tell jokes and stories, he never spoke about his time in France, God or faith. While he lived a fruitful life, his heart was certainly a casualty of war. May God give us compassion for all who suffer or die due to armed conflicts. Lest we forget.

]]>My maternal grandfather David Bannerman was a hopeful young man in January 1916 when he joined the Australian Imperial Forces. After training he was subsequently sent to France where he served for 3 years. He was away from home for 3 years and 10months. During that time he did not see his family in Sydney and they knew little of his welfare. In fact, they wrote several times to the AIF office requesting to know if he was still alive. They received general form letters stating that he was not on the casualty list and is believed to be with his Brigade.

From when Dave returned to Australia in late 1919 until his death in 1977 he said nothing about his time in France. The only stories he told were about his time before and after being in France. His War Service Record identifies that he served actively as a Gunner for 2 years in notorious battle fields including the Somme Valley, Fromelles, Ypres, Polygon Wood, Villiers Brettonneus and Amines.

He, like many of the 55th Battalion had more than 2 years on the Western Front and could not find a way to talk about their experience with anyone back in Australia. His face, however told a story. When he left Sydney in 1916 he looked like a 22 year old man. When he returned to Sydney in 1919 he looked like a 40 year old man. Dave like many men of his time became closed and cynical about matters of the heart and faith. While he loved to tell jokes and stories, he never spoke about his time in France, God or faith. While he lived a fruitful life, his heart was certainly a casualty of war. May God give us compassion for all who suffer or die due to armed conflicts. Lest we forget.

]]>A God-Owned Oasishttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/doing-gods-
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/doing-gods-#commentsThu, 08 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/doing-gods-Why would a family give up a comfortable life in Sydney and move to one of the more under-developed countries in this modern world? This is what our friends have been doing for the last 14 years - committed to sharing the good news of Jesus to the lost. But living in a remote rural area and running a farm? Not pastoring a church? Not training local Christians? We wanted to understand and see for ourselves what they are actually doing over there.

So off we went with our 3 kids - and this in a nutshell is what we saw. You see it isn't about running a farm. It isn't even about using the farm as a cover to get into the country to do church planting and training of local Christians. It's about being a shining light in a dark world - a region where life is hard and people are often broken and oppressed. A God-owned oasis radiating the love of Jesus, and all the goodness that entails, in a region where He is not known. And through this, people coming to desire Jesus as the Truth.

We have seen it first hand ... and yes .. we totally get it. The work they are doing is not just a good strategic idea - it is essential if the lost are to be found in all regions around the world. Please join us in upholding our friends in your prayers.

]]>Why would a family give up a comfortable life in Sydney and move to one of the more under-developed countries in this modern world? This is what our friends have been doing for the last 14 years - committed to sharing the good news of Jesus to the lost. But living in a remote rural area and running a farm? Not pastoring a church? Not training local Christians? We wanted to understand and see for ourselves what they are actually doing over there.

So off we went with our 3 kids - and this in a nutshell is what we saw. You see it isn't about running a farm. It isn't even about using the farm as a cover to get into the country to do church planting and training of local Christians. It's about being a shining light in a dark world - a region where life is hard and people are often broken and oppressed. A God-owned oasis radiating the love of Jesus, and all the goodness that entails, in a region where He is not known. And through this, people coming to desire Jesus as the Truth.

We have seen it first hand ... and yes .. we totally get it. The work they are doing is not just a good strategic idea - it is essential if the lost are to be found in all regions around the world. Please join us in upholding our friends in your prayers.

]]>Love of Others or Love of Selfhttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/love-of-others-or-love-of-self
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/love-of-others-or-love-of-self#commentsMon, 05 Nov 2018 12:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/love-of-others-or-love-of-selfWhat motivates your choice of seat at church? Is it prestige and prominence? Or perhaps comfort and a sense of security? Or do you select your seat based upon a desire to be friendly, serve others, and welcome newcomers. To put it simply, is you seat choice motivated by love of others or love of self?

Every Sunday morning we seem to form a nice red U of empty seats in the middle up the front. It’s occasionally broken by a few hardy souls or musicians who can’t locate a seat on the side.

I thought every church was like this until I visited the historic parish church of East Cromarty at the tip of the Black Isle in Scotland. Regular services ceased almost 100 years ago and, as a result, its layout and fittings have been preserved, almost frozen in time.

It’s a simple building in a T shape. Pews at two levels fill each branch of the T and a raised pulpit stands right at the intersection of the T. It’s perfect for maximising seating whilst giving the preacher close access to everyone.

During East Cromarty’s heyday, in the 18th and 19th Centuries, seats in front of the preacher were all the rage. The church raised funds through pew rentals and the most expensive pews were those right up front. Was it piety that motivated the more wealthy, powerful families to rent these pews, or were they more interested in a prominent display of their status within the community?

It’s a relatively minor question. But this one is not: What are your choices motivated by? Love of others or love of self?

]]>What motivates your choice of seat at church? Is it prestige and prominence? Or perhaps comfort and a sense of security? Or do you select your seat based upon a desire to be friendly, serve others, and welcome newcomers. To put it simply, is you seat choice motivated by love of others or love of self?

Every Sunday morning we seem to form a nice red U of empty seats in the middle up the front. It’s occasionally broken by a few hardy souls or musicians who can’t locate a seat on the side.

I thought every church was like this until I visited the historic parish church of East Cromarty at the tip of the Black Isle in Scotland. Regular services ceased almost 100 years ago and, as a result, its layout and fittings have been preserved, almost frozen in time.

It’s a simple building in a T shape. Pews at two levels fill each branch of the T and a raised pulpit stands right at the intersection of the T. It’s perfect for maximising seating whilst giving the preacher close access to everyone.

During East Cromarty’s heyday, in the 18th and 19th Centuries, seats in front of the preacher were all the rage. The church raised funds through pew rentals and the most expensive pews were those right up front. Was it piety that motivated the more wealthy, powerful families to rent these pews, or were they more interested in a prominent display of their status within the community?

It’s a relatively minor question. But this one is not: What are your choices motivated by? Love of others or love of self?

]]>Falls of Shinhttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/falls-of-shin
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/falls-of-shin#commentsMon, 29 Oct 2018 04:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/falls-of-shinWe were in the highlands of Scotland ready for a day of sightseeing. We planned to head west to the coastal town of Ullapool and then further north to explore some remote lochs. As we crossed the range, the rain started. It was wet, really wet. Ditching our plans, we decided to follow our noses and head back east.

And so we happened upon the Falls of Shin: a most pleasant happenstance indeed. They were not particularly spectacular. The scenery, hardly breathtaking. But the salmon, attempting to jump the falls and make their way upstream for breeding and eventual death, were amazing.

Water cascaded down a narrow channel, dropping into a pool one meter below. We watched as one salmon after another did its best to scale the heights and overcome the relentless torrent.

It was both mesmerising and thoroughly disheartening. Despite many attempts, over a period of more than ten minutes, only one salmon reached its goal. Most hit the oncoming water and were unceremoniously dumped back into the depths. Some didn’t stand a chance. They were just too small.

Anna said to me, ‘It’s like us trying to get to God by our own efforts. Try as we might, we’re just not good enough. And it’s not the Falls of Shin, we’re like salmon trying to leap Niagara’.

Jesus meets our need. We need not waste time and energy trying to jump unscalable heights. He lived the life we cannot live. He died the death we cannot afford to die. When we trust in him, he raises us up and leads us to God the Father, the hope of eternity.

]]>We were in the highlands of Scotland ready for a day of sightseeing. We planned to head west to the coastal town of Ullapool and then further north to explore some remote lochs. As we crossed the range, the rain started. It was wet, really wet. Ditching our plans, we decided to follow our noses and head back east.

And so we happened upon the Falls of Shin: a most pleasant happenstance indeed. They were not particularly spectacular. The scenery, hardly breathtaking. But the salmon, attempting to jump the falls and make their way upstream for breeding and eventual death, were amazing.

Water cascaded down a narrow channel, dropping into a pool one meter below. We watched as one salmon after another did its best to scale the heights and overcome the relentless torrent.

It was both mesmerising and thoroughly disheartening. Despite many attempts, over a period of more than ten minutes, only one salmon reached its goal. Most hit the oncoming water and were unceremoniously dumped back into the depths. Some didn’t stand a chance. They were just too small.

Anna said to me, ‘It’s like us trying to get to God by our own efforts. Try as we might, we’re just not good enough. And it’s not the Falls of Shin, we’re like salmon trying to leap Niagara’.

Jesus meets our need. We need not waste time and energy trying to jump unscalable heights. He lived the life we cannot live. He died the death we cannot afford to die. When we trust in him, he raises us up and leads us to God the Father, the hope of eternity.

]]>Poolside Reflectionshttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/poolside-reflections
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/poolside-reflections#commentsSun, 21 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/poolside-reflectionsThe sun was out and warming the pool deck where we stood, watching the class of two would-be swimmers in their first lesson of Spring. Eager, Evie wore a cheeky smile, her new one-piece, and a bright pink fish swim cap. Onto the pool noodle, practicing kicking, then floating on her back, all the while chat chat chatting to her friendly instructor

Kid Two on the other hand was a mess. Still standing on the pool step, and clutching for dear life onto the handrail, Kid Two let out intermittent wails in between somewhat rhythmic sobbing. From the second Kid Two’s feet had touched the water, and for the duration of the lesson, Kid Two had decided she was having The Worst Day Ever. My guess was not so much an allergic reaction to water, but from the way she constantly scanned the poolside with her eyes, what contributed to her distress was the separation from her parents which the lesson necessitated.

I truly empathise with Kid Two. Because all of us have days, don’t we, where we have to do things that we’re not comfortable with, and are not prepared for, and the situation we’re in frankly makes us want to curl up into a catatonic ball.

Thank God that he is never far. Our heavenly Father has always got his eye on us; his Word and his Spirit are with us. He’s promised not to put us in situations beyond what we can bear, and in every place, what he commands of us, he also supplies us the grace to fulfil. God grant us the wisdom to trust him this week, and to obey, even when we’re afraid.

]]>The sun was out and warming the pool deck where we stood, watching the class of two would-be swimmers in their first lesson of Spring. Eager, Evie wore a cheeky smile, her new one-piece, and a bright pink fish swim cap. Onto the pool noodle, practicing kicking, then floating on her back, all the while chat chat chatting to her friendly instructor

Kid Two on the other hand was a mess. Still standing on the pool step, and clutching for dear life onto the handrail, Kid Two let out intermittent wails in between somewhat rhythmic sobbing. From the second Kid Two’s feet had touched the water, and for the duration of the lesson, Kid Two had decided she was having The Worst Day Ever. My guess was not so much an allergic reaction to water, but from the way she constantly scanned the poolside with her eyes, what contributed to her distress was the separation from her parents which the lesson necessitated.

I truly empathise with Kid Two. Because all of us have days, don’t we, where we have to do things that we’re not comfortable with, and are not prepared for, and the situation we’re in frankly makes us want to curl up into a catatonic ball.

Thank God that he is never far. Our heavenly Father has always got his eye on us; his Word and his Spirit are with us. He’s promised not to put us in situations beyond what we can bear, and in every place, what he commands of us, he also supplies us the grace to fulfil. God grant us the wisdom to trust him this week, and to obey, even when we’re afraid.

]]>The Truth is Your Friendhttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/the-truth-is-your-friend
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/the-truth-is-your-friend#commentsMon, 15 Oct 2018 04:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/the-truth-is-your-friendOn my recent sabbatical, I found myself watching more television than usual. My favourite show was ‘Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares - USA’. The plot line of this reality TV show is always the same.

A restaurant on the brink of closing calls Gordon Ramsay in for advice and a makeover. It’s immediately obvious why the restaurant is struggling. Their dreadful food and work practices, although having become part of the culture, can be taken back to issues around one key person (usually the owner), or two key people in constant, unforgiven conflict.

Ramsay goes in, tastes the food, tells them it’s awful, at which point they get all defensive, angry and start blaming others. However, Gordon, the viewer, and the non-existent customers know exactly what’s wrong. It’s plain as day. Ramsay states the facts in a simple, direct, and confronting manner. We, the viewer, agree completely.

I kept being reminded of an adage I like to quote: ‘The truth is your friend’. You will get nowhere in denial. You must face the facts, particularly when you don’t like them, as they impact on your behaviour and competency.

I couldn’t help thinking of churches in conflict, where the ‘customers’ stopped coming years ago. They want help, and they can’t work it out, but what they don’t want is the simple, blunt truth. They are in denial, dying or already dead, discrediting the name of Christ. Problem is, churches can survive longer than restaurants in absolute denial, controlled by one or two people, often in conflict.

We must guard our church and maintain unity in the bond of the Spirit.

]]>On my recent sabbatical, I found myself watching more television than usual. My favourite show was ‘Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares - USA’. The plot line of this reality TV show is always the same.

A restaurant on the brink of closing calls Gordon Ramsay in for advice and a makeover. It’s immediately obvious why the restaurant is struggling. Their dreadful food and work practices, although having become part of the culture, can be taken back to issues around one key person (usually the owner), or two key people in constant, unforgiven conflict.

Ramsay goes in, tastes the food, tells them it’s awful, at which point they get all defensive, angry and start blaming others. However, Gordon, the viewer, and the non-existent customers know exactly what’s wrong. It’s plain as day. Ramsay states the facts in a simple, direct, and confronting manner. We, the viewer, agree completely.

I kept being reminded of an adage I like to quote: ‘The truth is your friend’. You will get nowhere in denial. You must face the facts, particularly when you don’t like them, as they impact on your behaviour and competency.

I couldn’t help thinking of churches in conflict, where the ‘customers’ stopped coming years ago. They want help, and they can’t work it out, but what they don’t want is the simple, blunt truth. They are in denial, dying or already dead, discrediting the name of Christ. Problem is, churches can survive longer than restaurants in absolute denial, controlled by one or two people, often in conflict.

We must guard our church and maintain unity in the bond of the Spirit.

]]>A Healthy Churchhttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/a-healthy-church
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/a-healthy-church#commentsWed, 10 Oct 2018 12:00:00 +1100https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/a-healthy-churchI was chatting with Cameron Eccleston from Baptist World Aid when our conversation turned towards what makes for a healthy, Spirit filled, life-giving church. Cameron visits lots of churches and he always leaves with an impression, imperfect though it be, of their spiritual vitality.

The churches that leave Cameron buoyant in faith are not necessarily the biggest churches, or the slick contemporary churches with a great band and tight program. Nor can vitality be linked to the quality of the décor, the passion of the preaching and leading, the ‘freedom’ of worship, nor even by a stated commitment to the centrality of God’s Word – as important as that is.

Church vitality, as Cameron senses it on a Sunday morning, is more intangible. Ask simple questions. Is the love of Jesus present? Are people engaged with God and one another, or do they seem to be going through the motions?

We spent four Sundays at St Andrews Baptist in Scotland. They meet in a dingy school hall. Their music was in holiday survival mode; everything at a steady beat. They were ‘traditional’. But… they loved Jesus. Old and young shared with each other before and after the service. They sung with joy and passion. They smiled, laughed, and engaged in every part of the service with sincerity. We felt that we were part of a healthy, Spirit filled church.

We concern ourselves lots of things in church life that are secondary. But do we have a passion for unity in the Spirit, for the love of Jesus given and received? That’s central. That’s number one.

]]>I was chatting with Cameron Eccleston from Baptist World Aid when our conversation turned towards what makes for a healthy, Spirit filled, life-giving church. Cameron visits lots of churches and he always leaves with an impression, imperfect though it be, of their spiritual vitality.

The churches that leave Cameron buoyant in faith are not necessarily the biggest churches, or the slick contemporary churches with a great band and tight program. Nor can vitality be linked to the quality of the décor, the passion of the preaching and leading, the ‘freedom’ of worship, nor even by a stated commitment to the centrality of God’s Word – as important as that is.

Church vitality, as Cameron senses it on a Sunday morning, is more intangible. Ask simple questions. Is the love of Jesus present? Are people engaged with God and one another, or do they seem to be going through the motions?

We spent four Sundays at St Andrews Baptist in Scotland. They meet in a dingy school hall. Their music was in holiday survival mode; everything at a steady beat. They were ‘traditional’. But… they loved Jesus. Old and young shared with each other before and after the service. They sung with joy and passion. They smiled, laughed, and engaged in every part of the service with sincerity. We felt that we were part of a healthy, Spirit filled church.

We concern ourselves lots of things in church life that are secondary. But do we have a passion for unity in the Spirit, for the love of Jesus given and received? That’s central. That’s number one.

]]>On Timehttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/on-time_2
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/on-time_2#commentsMon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 +1000https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/on-time_2During my recent Sabbatical, Anna and I attended three different churches. I’m almost embarrassed to say it, but at each church, people arrived on time.

Our first Sunday was spent at Mortdale-Oatley Baptist Church where my friend, Tim Burns, is Senior Pastor. MOBC is, in many ways, much like Penno. A diverse congregation of over 200 people gathered to worship God and encourage one another. We took our seat about five minutes before the service began and watched as the church rapidly filled and started on time.

In Scotland, we attended St Andrew’s Baptist, a gathering of about 300 people who meet in a local high school hall. Despite arriving early, we had to hunt for a seat. When the service began, almost everyone was seated expectantly and ready for worship.

We also visited Grace City Church, which was planted three years ago and meet in an industrial complex at Waterloo with bright lights, blackened walls, a young pastor, and a top rate band. Anna and I felt like senior citizens. Yet even in this young, hip, inner city church, most people arrived on time!

It’s not so at Penno. We regularly start with less than one third of our congregation present. With so few people, there is little sense of anticipation. Musicians and service leaders, who have practiced for hours, then do their best to raise energy levels as people walk in late. It’s discouraging work.

I don’t know why this is, but I do know that it’s not cool. Please make an effort to be at church early, before our services start.

]]>During my recent Sabbatical, Anna and I attended three different churches. I’m almost embarrassed to say it, but at each church, people arrived on time.

Our first Sunday was spent at Mortdale-Oatley Baptist Church where my friend, Tim Burns, is Senior Pastor. MOBC is, in many ways, much like Penno. A diverse congregation of over 200 people gathered to worship God and encourage one another. We took our seat about five minutes before the service began and watched as the church rapidly filled and started on time.

In Scotland, we attended St Andrew’s Baptist, a gathering of about 300 people who meet in a local high school hall. Despite arriving early, we had to hunt for a seat. When the service began, almost everyone was seated expectantly and ready for worship.

We also visited Grace City Church, which was planted three years ago and meet in an industrial complex at Waterloo with bright lights, blackened walls, a young pastor, and a top rate band. Anna and I felt like senior citizens. Yet even in this young, hip, inner city church, most people arrived on time!

It’s not so at Penno. We regularly start with less than one third of our congregation present. With so few people, there is little sense of anticipation. Musicians and service leaders, who have practiced for hours, then do their best to raise energy levels as people walk in late. It’s discouraging work.

I don’t know why this is, but I do know that it’s not cool. Please make an effort to be at church early, before our services start.

]]>Beauty in All Thingshttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/beauty-in-all-things
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/beauty-in-all-things#commentsFri, 28 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +1000https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/beauty-in-all-thingsI’d often go for a walk or run along the track that runs up the headland above East Sands Beach at St Andrews, Scotland. At the height of summer, the track is hedged in by a wild garden brimming with flowers, foliage, and life. A trained horticulturalist would be hard pressed to cultivate a more delightful plot.

Blackberries, in flower and with berries in various shades of ripening, were interspersed with an array of poppies, rosehip, wild roses, Scotch thistle (I never knew there were so many varieties), gorse in yellow flower, and daisies in various shades of yellow, white, and mauve. Towering above, framing the border, were bright-pink Rosebay Willowherbs. Bracken softened the edges, and little Peter Rabbit’s kept diving in and out through the undergrowth, as bumblebees ranged among the flowers, and sparrows flitted here and there. Scottish rural splendour.

Now imagine this: a walking track above an Australian beach lined with blackberries, Scotch thistle, Gorse, Bracken fern, rabbits, and sparrows. Awful! Nothing but pests the council should earmark for destruction.

Can you see how much context shapes our perceptions and thereby our behaviour? Just because something doesn’t ‘fit’ into my world the way I want it to, doesn’t mean that it is ugly or useless or somehow unworthy of my attention.

There is beauty in every good thing God has created. Even more so, there is beauty, glory, and wonder in every person made in God’s image. We must never write people off, dismiss, or disregard them. Praise God! Scottish weeds, when understood rightly in context, make for a splendidly wild Scottish garden.

]]>I’d often go for a walk or run along the track that runs up the headland above East Sands Beach at St Andrews, Scotland. At the height of summer, the track is hedged in by a wild garden brimming with flowers, foliage, and life. A trained horticulturalist would be hard pressed to cultivate a more delightful plot.

Blackberries, in flower and with berries in various shades of ripening, were interspersed with an array of poppies, rosehip, wild roses, Scotch thistle (I never knew there were so many varieties), gorse in yellow flower, and daisies in various shades of yellow, white, and mauve. Towering above, framing the border, were bright-pink Rosebay Willowherbs. Bracken softened the edges, and little Peter Rabbit’s kept diving in and out through the undergrowth, as bumblebees ranged among the flowers, and sparrows flitted here and there. Scottish rural splendour.

Now imagine this: a walking track above an Australian beach lined with blackberries, Scotch thistle, Gorse, Bracken fern, rabbits, and sparrows. Awful! Nothing but pests the council should earmark for destruction.

Can you see how much context shapes our perceptions and thereby our behaviour? Just because something doesn’t ‘fit’ into my world the way I want it to, doesn’t mean that it is ugly or useless or somehow unworthy of my attention.

There is beauty in every good thing God has created. Even more so, there is beauty, glory, and wonder in every person made in God’s image. We must never write people off, dismiss, or disregard them. Praise God! Scottish weeds, when understood rightly in context, make for a splendidly wild Scottish garden.

]]>Going To Churchhttps://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/going-to-church
https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/going-to-church#commentsMon, 17 Sep 2018 04:00:00 +1000https://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/blog/post/going-to-churchSunday morning in St Andrew’s Scotland; 10:15am and we’re off to church. Out the front door, up the road, through the car park, and into the local high school auditorium.

Strangers look at us and smile. As we approach the entrance another stranger says hello and holds out a piece of paper. We grab it quickly and enter a large hall with hundreds of chairs and masses of people comfortably running around and talking to one another.

We don’t share their comfort. All sorts of thoughts run through our head. ‘Where should we sit? What’s going to happen? Will it be weird? Is there any means of escape? How long will all this last? What if nobody talks to us? Let’s hope we can make a quick getaway. Aaargh!!!’ And all this from a pastor who has spent the best part of his life going to church.

Going to an unfamiliar church, particularly if you’re not a regular church goer, is an incredibly stressful experience. It’s a walk into the unknown, with the sure knowledge that you will be trapped for at least an hour.

St Andrews Baptist was a great church. Every Sunday we were glad we went. But every Sunday we felt the same emotions.

It would have been so much easier if we had gone with a friend. It’s the same here at Penno. Going to church is hard work. It’s much easier if you can go with a friend. So be a friend. Invite others to church and then look after them. And if you see someone without a friend, make the effort to be a friend.

]]>Sunday morning in St Andrew’s Scotland; 10:15am and we’re off to church. Out the front door, up the road, through the car park, and into the local high school auditorium.

Strangers look at us and smile. As we approach the entrance another stranger says hello and holds out a piece of paper. We grab it quickly and enter a large hall with hundreds of chairs and masses of people comfortably running around and talking to one another.

We don’t share their comfort. All sorts of thoughts run through our head. ‘Where should we sit? What’s going to happen? Will it be weird? Is there any means of escape? How long will all this last? What if nobody talks to us? Let’s hope we can make a quick getaway. Aaargh!!!’ And all this from a pastor who has spent the best part of his life going to church.

Going to an unfamiliar church, particularly if you’re not a regular church goer, is an incredibly stressful experience. It’s a walk into the unknown, with the sure knowledge that you will be trapped for at least an hour.

St Andrews Baptist was a great church. Every Sunday we were glad we went. But every Sunday we felt the same emotions.

It would have been so much easier if we had gone with a friend. It’s the same here at Penno. Going to church is hard work. It’s much easier if you can go with a friend. So be a friend. Invite others to church and then look after them. And if you see someone without a friend, make the effort to be a friend.